Chocolate-Butterfinger Cupcakes

These cupcakes are the perfect balance between a cupcake, dessert & candy. Could it get any better? I don't feel as bad eating a cupcake as I do eating a couple of pieces of candy...nah, not so bad is it?

The candy melts into the cupcakes, and with the chocolate & butter flavor, you just can't go wrong!

Chocolate-Butterfinger Cupcakes

For the cupcakes:

2 & 1/4 cups All-purpose flour

1/2 cup high quality Cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking Soda

2 teaspoons baking Powder

1 teaspoon kosher Salt

1 cup Buttermilk, shaken

2 sticks Butter-softened to room temperature

1 & ½ cups granulated Sugar

2 tablespoons Butter flavoring

2 large Eggs, at room temperature

2 teaspoons pure Vanilla extract

1 cup chopped Butterfinger candy (plus more for decoration)

For the Frosting:

2 sticks butter, softened to room temperature

8 ounces softened cream cheese

1 pounds confectioners’ sugar, sifted

1 teaspoon pure Vanilla extract

1 tablespoon whole cream-adjust upward to obtain the desired consistency

Directions: For the cupcakes

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners; set aside.

Sift the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a medium sized bowl, and then set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the sugar and butter. Once well combined, add vanilla. Slowly add the buttermilk, eggs, and butter extract, mixing on low speed until combined.

With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry. With mixer still on low, fold in the butterfingers, and stir just to combine, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula.

3. Using a large scoop, distribute the batter between 24 muffin wells, filling each well 2/3 full. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then remove to a cooling rack and cool completely.

4. Finish by frosting with vanilla frosting.

For the Icing

In a large mixer, combine the sticks of butter, vanilla, cream cheese, and confectioners sugar gradually. Slowly add cream until you reach the desired consistency.

Chocolate Mounds Pie

My hubby & I both LOVE Mounds candy. This has all the same ingredients, but isn't made with Mounds. It IS delicious! And for all you out there with Gluten allergies, it's gluten free. Yeahhhhhh!

Chocolate Mounds Pie

Ingredients for the crust:

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

4 cups sweetened shredded coconut

¼ cup Coconut flour

¼ cup Almonds (raw & unsalted)

Ingredients for the filling:

2 cups heavy cream

16 ounces bittersweet chocolate (preferably 61 percent cacao), finely chopped

1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a food processor, process butter, almonds, & coconut flour untill it forms a crust-like mixture. Place into a large mixing bowl, & add in coconut. Mix until a crust forms. In a glass pie pan, use 2/3 of the mixture to press into the bottom and sides of pan as a crust. Sprinkle remaining coconut mixture around the edges forming a high crust edge. Bake for 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove & cool.

Bring cream to a boil in a small saucepan; pour over chocolate in a medium heat proof  bowl. Let mixture sit for 10 minutes, & then stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is combined. Add vanilla. Pour into coconut crust. Refrigerate until filling is set, (about 3 hours).

Hand Piped Candy Designs-Part 2

I hand drew these designs with a style similar to the fleur de lis, and then piped melted colored almond bark (Vanilla) into a disposable icing bag, with a Wilton tip #7 onto the design covered with Parchment paper. Because I piped over the design I was able to repeat it multiple times by just adding a new piece of parchment paper.

As soon as I finished the piping, I sprinkled it with Wiltons edible glitter, and transferred the sheet to a large rounded coffee can. Try to find something that has the same circumference as your cake, otherwise it will dry into a shape, and will start to break when you attach it to your cake.

Mine wasn't perfect, and did break in some places, but since I had just iced my cake which was setting in the fridge, I was able to fix it, and reconnect the pieces by pressing them back into the icing.

Chill the designs in the freezer for about 2-3 minutes, then gently remove from your parchment paper & press into your cake. These can be done in any color or style.